The establishment of percutaneous renal access under the guidance of color Doppler ultrasonography: its clinical application

Objective: To investigate the method of establishing the percutaneous renal channel under the guidance of color Doppler ultrasonography, to evaluate the success rate and safety of this technique, and to discuss its clinical application in percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods: Under the guidance of color Doppler ultrasonography, percutaneous renal channel was successfully established in 209 patients with renal and upper ureteral calculi. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The whole course of the removal of stones was monitored. The initial experience and the technical points were summarized. Results: Under the guidance of color Doppler ultrasonography, an effective and safe percutaneous renal access was successfully established in all patients. The success rate of puncturing was 99% (207/209). The success rate by single puncturing was 94.7% (198/209). In 9 patients successful puncturing was accomplished with twice procedures. In two fat patients, successful puncturing was achieved with the help of C-arm radiography. No serious complications occurred during and after the treatment. Conclusion: The operation of establishing a percutaneous renal access under the guidance of color Doppler ultrasonography is technically simple, clinically safe and reliable, with high success rate. Therefore, it should be regarded as the imaging-guided localizing method of first choice. (authors)